Matrix device



Sept. 7, 1965 G. DIRKS 3,205,483

MATRIX DEVI GE Original Filed March 30, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

N I "5 i mvaroe BY W S M W Sept. 7, 1965 s. DlRKS 3,205,483

MATRIX DEVICE Original Filed March 30. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

INVENTOR Y W 79 41 W S. M

G. DIRKS MATRIX DEVICE Sept. 7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original FiledMarch 30. 1955 -ola -1L III/7 INVENTOR BY S Sept. 7, 1965 G. DlRKS3,205,483

MATRIX DEVICE Original Filed March 30, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTDR WWBY Sign/1! MIR-RN] United States Patent Office Patented Sept. 7, 19653,205,483 MATRIX DEVICE Gerhard Dirks, Morfelder Landstrasse 44,Frankfurt am Main, Germany Original application Mar. 30, 1955, Ser. No.498,041, new Patent No. 2,972,016, dated Feb. 14, 1961. fiivided andthis application Oct. 27, 1950, Ser. No. 65,440 Claims priority,application Germany, (let. 1, 1948, P 11,464; Great Britain, June 23,1959, 15,733/50; Dec. 23, 1954, 37,208/54 7 Claims, (Cl. 340-1725) Thepresent application is a division of the application Serial No. 498,041filed by me on March 30, 1955, and entitled Teletyping Means for thePrinting or Other Indication of Numbers and Other Information, issued011 February 14, 1961, as United States Patent No. 2,972,- 016, whichapplication Serial No. 498,041 is a continuation in-part of theapplication Serial No. 101,032 filed by me on June 24, 1949, andentitled Electronic Oflice Machine With Computing, Indicating, Printing,Storingand Sorting Mechanisms, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a means for the transmission of signalsrepresenting characters to be printed or typed or fed to some otherdevices and consists essentially of a method and means for convertinginput signals in serial order to output signals in parallel order sothat each character may be printed or typed as a whole even if theoriginal signals represent parts of the character in a predeterminedsequence.

The arrangement of the present invention is useful in making visible theresult of a computation performed by an electronic digital computer at ahigh speed. The invention may be used with the computer disclosed in mycopcnding patent application, Serial No. 432,093, filed May 25, 1954,now abandoned.

The invention provides a method of printing or other indication ofcharacters wherein signal sequences representing parts of saidcharacters are fed by a distributor into corresponding parts of anon-mechanical storage device, and are subsequently fed simultaneouslyfrom the parts of such storage device to printing or other indicatingmeans.

The present invention is described as applied to a multi-denominationline at a time high speed printer as an example. It is evident that itcan be used also with a printer for one or a few denominations andprinting on the dot or line principle or otherwise.

One of the main features of the operation of the invcntion is the use ofan electronic distributor with electronic synchronizing means and, inthe case of a teletyper, the use of such distributor and synchronizerboth at the transmitting and receiving ends. The distributors arepreferably cathode ray distributors, the cathode ray of which isdeflected in dependence on synchronizing signals on the same signalcarrier as the character-representing signals.

Another feature of the invention is the use of storage means, especiallythose of the magnetic type, either on the transmitter or receiver side,to increase the output of the arrangements.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-denominationprinter for high speed printing according to the dot or line wiseprinciple and adapted to print in different denominationssimultaneously. Such a printer is described in my copending patentapplication, Serial No. 432,297, filed May 25, 1954, and new Patent No.2,899,892;

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of an electronicsynchronizing and distributing means for the control of amold-denomination printing device of the type shown in FIG. I; and

FiGS. 3a and 31 are schematic circuit diagrams of embodiments of atransmitting station and a receiving station, with a dot wise operatingmulti-denomination printer, coordinated electronic synchronizing meansin the form of cathode ray distributors, and alternative ma neticstorage means in the form of a magnetizable drum and a magnctizablc tapeon the transmitting side (FIG. 3a).

As stated, the invention is illustrated as applied to a printing devicesuch as described in my copending patent application, Serial No.432,297, filed May 25, 1954, in which characters are made up of dotsand/or lines in rows, the rows usually running transversely across thecharacters so that, with a series of side by side charactcrs, the saidtransverse rows extend through all the characters, and the completesequence of characters can be printed by the simultaneous printing ofthe several rows of dots and/or lines.

The invention is equally applicable to other indications of characters,such as, for example the visual indication means disclosed in mycopending patent application, Serial No. 432,298, filed May 25, 1954 andnow abandoned.

As shown in FIG. l, a permanent magnet 1 has its magnetic circuitcompleted via parts of the separate printing levers 2 and the cores ofthe coils 3 and 4 these being arranged one behind the other as explainedin the said copending patent application, Serial No. 432,297, filed May25, 1954. The main shaft 5 is moved up and down by the polarizedmagnetized elements 6 moving between the poles of magnets 7 and 8, whichare energized by an alternating current or a current controlled byelectronic tubes or by contacts and flowing through the coils 9 and 10of the magnets 7 and 8; the coil 9 having terminals 11 and 12. 3yenergizing of the magnet coils 3 4 and so on, in a selective sequencedepending on the sequence of parts of characters in the transverse rowsof the characters which are to be printed, the printing of the differentrows, collectively forming the shapes of the different characters, canbe effected at high speeds The speed is limited by the frequency whichcan be reached by pivoted levers controlled by magnet coils. Under themore difiicult conditions of the usual relays, involving inductive andmechanical inertia, an armature frequency of 250 cycles per second inthe printing devices is easily reached. The present construction reducesthe restrictive effect of the inductive and mechanical inertia of themechanism, and makes possible the printing of at least 250 dot lines persecond, equalling 25 type character lines per second as a maximum speed.This output corresponds to 90,000 type character lines per hour, or in amulti-column printing unit of I00 denominations, a working limit of 250type characters per second.

The control of the energization of the printing magnet coils is cllectcdin the example shown by the cathode ray distributor 13 of FIG. 2. Theuse of this relatively simple and inexpensive delayless distributor ispreferred for the present mode of high speed printing and teleprintingbecause it provides easy synchronization. Of course, inductivedistributors or other electronic or electric distributing means may beused for the same purpose.

The printing arrangement of FIG. 1 and the cathode ray distributor ofFIG. 2 operate together in the following way. The magnetic tape 14-(FiG. 3a) and the magnetic storage drum 15 (FIG. 3a) containsynchronizing signals or fretuencies at 14a, 15a, respectively, inaddition to the signals at 14/1, 151), respectively, representing thedifferent type characters to be printed. In order to print the appeasetype characters by dots or lines when they are initially represented bysignals in a different code, such other signal code must be converted toa suitable code for the dot and line system of character representation.In such a case the selective storage of FIG. 3a, will be used as aconverter.

In the wiring diagram of FIG. 2 the pulse sequence representing the dotsor lines in the top line of the row of side-by-side type characters,which is the first row to be printed, will be sensed in sequence by amagnetic sensing head 16, one end of the winding of which is connectedto the control grid of the amplifier pcntode 17. The consequentvariations of the plate voltage of thi pentode 17 are transferred viathe capacitor 18 to the negatively biased control electrode 19associated with one deflecting system of the double deflecting systemsof the cathode ray tube 13.

The synchronization of the rotation of the cathode ray beam over thesectors 20 on the screen 13a with the movement of the storage device 14or 15 is described in my copending patent applications, Serial Nos.498,047, now forfeited, and 498,048, now Patent No. 3,042,091 and iseffected by means of the sensing head 21 the gap of which lies oppositethe sine wave synchronization signals (14a, 15a) of the storage device.One end of the coil of this sensing head 21 is connected to the controlgrid of pentode 22. After amplification this synchronization frequencyis applied to a phase-shifting device consisting of a bridge 23, 24. Onepair of opposite arms of the bridge are resistive and the other pair ofarms are capacitive. The values of the bridge arms are such that thesine waves at the two output junctions of the bridge have a phasedifference of 90.

The output junctions of the bridge are connected to the deflecting platesystems 25 and 26, forming part of the upper electrode system of thecathode ray tube.

The negative bias of the control electrode 19 of the upper electrodesystem of the cathode ray tube is such that the intensity of the cathoderay beam passing over the secondary electron emitting sectors 20 of thescreen 13a does not normally release a suiiicient quantity of secondaryelectrons to produce an appreciable signal on the control grids of thethyratrons 27 and 28 and so on, if no pulse is sensed by head 16 andamplified by peutode 17. If such a pulse is sensed the control electrode 19 becomes less negative for the duration of this pulse a positivepulse being applied to the electrode 19 via the capacitor 18, connectedto the plate of pentodc 17, and the intensity of the cathode ray beam isincreased sufficiently for the corresponding sector on which the beam isthen impinging to release secondary electrons in suflicient quantitiesto ignite the gas discharge tubes 27, 28, and so on.

In the main discharge circuit of these discharge tubes are connected thecontrol electromagncts 3 4 of the printing unit. These areinterconnected in any selected way, by manually pluggable connections160.

The energization of the electromagncts 7 and 8 is controlled by thedischarge tube 32, in the main discharge circuit of which the coils 9and 10 of these electromagnets are connected. If no more than about 100to 200 coils are to be energized, the control of the control grid of thedischarge tube 32 can be effected by pulses taken directly from thesecondary emitting line 20 which pulses occur once for each rotation ofthe cathode ray on the screen 13a.

With such a number of coils 3 4 and corresponding sectors on the screen13a. a single cathode ray tube distributor can be used. With greaternumbers of coils and sector a plurality of cathode ray tubes would beused, operating in series.

In order that the cathode ray distributor may be used repeatedly withinone complete printing cycle the second deflecting system of the cathoderay distributor operates one after another a series of discharge tubesunder control of additional sectors 30 with an additional electrode canbe used.

In this case, the igniting of the discharge tube 32 is ciiected by thetop sector 30.

The deflection of the cathode ray beam of the deflecting plate system25-31 is controlled by capacitor 23 in the plate circuit of pentode 22,one end of which capacitor is connected with one of said deflectingplates 25-31. With every cycle of the rotation of the cathode ray overscreen 13:: a pulse is produced by sector 20, effecting the ignition ofthe discharge tube 36. By thi means the charging pentodc 34 is madeconductive for a short interval, although it is normally nonconductivcin consequence of. a negative bias applied to the control grid via thegridleak resistance. By this means a stepwise deflection of the cathoderay, passing over the sectors 39 to 30, is effected in such a way thatduring every rotation of the other beam, said cathode ray is deflectedby one step.

At the first rotation, the cathode ray passing over the sectors 30 to30", having a predetermined intensity, ignites the discharge tube 32,via connection a, thus discharging capacitor 33. When impinging onsector 20, the other cathode ray effects the ignition of the dischargetube 36 via connection 0. Capacitor 33 is charged by one unit, asdescribed above, thus deflecting the cathode ray by one step onto sector30 via connection b and igniting the coordinated gas discharge tube Thegas discharge tube 35 produces across its cathode resistance 101 a platevoltage for the discharge tubes 27 of the upper row, which is just belowthe ignition voltage. Therefore, only this one of the rows is preparedto be ignited, if a pulse is applied to the control grids, connected incommon to each sector 20 to 20 of the cathode ray distributor 13. Thus,only that one of the discharge tubes 27 can be ignited, which receives apulse from the sectors 20 to 20 and is in the row of said dischargetubes controlled by the sectors 30 to 30 by having plate voltage appliedthereto.

After one rotation of the cathode ray controlled by deflecting system 25of the distributor the other cathode ray passes on to sector 30 as aresult of igniting the discharge tube 36. Through the transformer 37 anegative pulse is applied to the grid of triode 38 to make itnonconducting and momentarily interrupt the above voltage supply to thedischarge tubes 35 Therefore, the discharge tube 35 is extinguished, butthose of the discharge tubes 27 which have been ignited are maintainedby current through a resistance 29 which supplie a voltage a littlehigher than the extinguishing voltage of the discharge tubes 27 Duringthe third rotation, the discharge tubes of the second row, controlled bydischarge tube 35 (not shown in the drawing) will be rendered operative,during the fourth rotation the third row of discharge tubes will berendered operative, and so on, so that after, for example, ten rotationsof the cathode ray distributor, all the required discharge tubes willhave been rendered operative. The coordinated coils 3 4 and so on willbe energized to ensure that the respective printing levers 2 coordinatedto these coils will not be effective to print.

In order to provide a substantial current pulse which is effective inthe coils 3 and 4 the voltage of the positive pole, which, during thepreparation phase described above, is only a little higher than theextinguishing voltage of the discharge tube is, shortly before theculmination point of the upward movement of shaft 5, changed over byswitch 39 short circuiting resistor 40 to a higher voltage, just belowthe ignition voltage of the discharge tubes, the change occurring duringa short interval beginning shortly before and ending shortly after thesaid culmination point. The switch 39 can be either a contact switchcontrolled by the mechanical movement of shaft 5, or it can be anelectronic switch controlled by a discharge tube.

Instead of the changing of the voltage from a little higher than theextinguishing voltage to a little below the ignition voltage of thedischarge tubes, discharge tubes Such tubes would be ignited by theignition electrode, maintained operative by the additional electrodeduring the preparation cycle and operated for a short interval by thecontrol grid and main discharge circuit between the ordinary plate andthe cathode. The main discharge circuit can then only be effective forthe pre-ignited discharge tubes during the short interval at therespective movements when the printing levers are at their upperculminating oints. The discharge tubes can either be provided with aheated cathode (thyratron) or with a cold cathode.

The multi-column printing units can be used also for teleprintingaccording to FIGS. 3a and 3b. In this case, the printing unit at thetransmitting station is the same as described above. The intensity ofthe ray of the cathode ray distributor 41 is controlled by the pentode42 which also applies the same pulses to the modulating stage of thetransmitter 43. The pentode 44 transfers the synchronization frequencyfrom the storage drum or the storage tape 14 to the deflecting platesystems 45 and 46 over the phase shifting bridge 47, transferring thesame frequency to the modulating stage of the transmitter 43. Bothmodulations are transmitted by the said transmitter.

The different sectors of the cathode ray distributor screen 48 effectthe selective ignition of the multi-denomination tubes 49 controllingthe multi-denomination printing unit 50 with its coils 3 4 (see FIG. 1)via the plug board 51. In this case, the discharge tubes 49 are shown astubes with cold cathodes. The up and down movement of the main shaft 5(see FIG. 1), with the several printing levers, is controlled again bythe cathode ray distributor 41 by means of the discharge tube 52. Theextinguishing of the discharge tube 52 is effected by breaking thecircuit by means of a contact 53 controlled mechanically by the movingends of the main shaft 5.

At the receiving station a similar arrangement exists. The transfer iseffected dot line per dot line via receiver 54 (FIG. 3b). the cathoderay distributor 55 and the printing unit 50. The transmitted or receivedpulses are conducted from the receiver to the filters 56 and 57 of whichthe filter 57 passes lower frequencies, such as the synchronizingfrequencies, whereas the filter 56 passes higher frequencies, such asthe pulses representing the characters to be printed.

The lower frequency passed by the filter 57 is amplified in pentode 58controlling, after the amplification, the de flection plate system 59and 60, the voltages being chosen in such a way that the voltages atdeflecting plate system 59 are phase-shifted by 90 degrees compared withthe voltage controlling the deflecting system 60. The amplification ofthe pulses by pentode 61 controls the intensity of the cathode ray inthe cathode ray tube 55 according to whether or not, at the momentconcerned the control elec trode 62 becomes less negative than its bias.As the rotation of the cathode ray in the cathode ray distributor 41 atthe transmitting station is effected by the same control frequency ascontrols the rotation of the cathode ray in the distributor 55, thecathode ray of the cathode ray distributor screen 48 passes at everymoment of the cycle the sector in distributor 46 corresponding to thesector passed over by the cathode ray of the cathode ray distributor 55.This single control frequency can be taken from a storage drum or astorage tape or from a synchronizing generator, which may produce thetwo alternating currents, the voltages of which are relatively shiftedby 90 degrees by an off-set arrangement of their windings. The printingcan likewise be effected by the multi-column unit 50 via the ignition ofthe control discharge tubes 49 which are connected to the differentsectors of the cathode ray distributor screen 63.

The movement of. the main shaft, corresponding to main shaft 5 of FIG.1, is controlled by an arrangement similar to magnetic systems 7 and 8of FIG. 1.

Any suitable data synchronizing system may be utilized to control theprinting levers or the like instead of the combination of the cathoderay distributor and discharge all] tubes or the like. A suitable datasynchronizing system will operate with great accuracy although longdistances may be involved.

The pulses controlling the movement of the main shaft of the printingunit can be used also as synchronization pulses for the sawtooth controlof a discharge circuit, to the capacitor of which the horizontaldeflecting plates of a cathode ray tube are connected in parallel. If inthis case the cathode ray tube has the ordinary luminescent screen andthe pulses amplified via pentode 61 are applied to the control electrodeof the cathode ray tube 55, the printing dot lines can be made visibleon the screen of the cathode ray tube due to the fact that within everyhorizontal line the intensity of the cathode ray will be controlled inaccordance with the transmitted type character pulses.

By means of the plug board 51 the arrangements of the type characterrows on the paper sheet can be chosen simply by correspondingconnections between coils 3 and discharge tubes 49 The type charactercoding device, coding the type character symbol pulses into printable orvisible type character pulse sequences is described in my copendingpatent application Serial No. 498,055, filed March 30, 1955, now PatentNo. 2,982,951.

What I claim is:

1. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination, a printing mechanismhaving a plurality of printing members; control means for controllingeach of said plurality of printing members; magnetizable signal carriermeans having signals recorded serially thereon; signal sensing meanspositioned in operative proximity to said signal carrier means andadapted to sense signals recorded on the said signal carrier means; astorage device having a first group of components comprising a pluralityof substantially parallel spaced conductors, a second group ofcomponents comprising a plurality of sub stantially parallel spacedconductors positioned with said first group of components and transverseto the said first group of components, each of the conductors of saidfirst group of components intersecting each of the conductors of saidsecond group of components; energizing means including first electronicsignal distributor means having an input connected to said signalsensing means and a plurality of outputs connected to the conductors ofsaid first group of components, said first electronic signal distributormeans being adapted to energize selected ones of said last-mentionedconductors under the control of signals sensed by said signal sensingmeans and second electronic signal distributor means having an inputconnected to said signal sensing means and a plurality of outputsconnected to the conductors of said second group of components, saidsecond electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said lastmentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said signal sensing means; a plurality of storageelements each having an energized stable storage condition and anunenergized stable condition and each connected between a conductor ofsaid first group of components and a conductor of said second group ofcomponents at the intersection of each of the conductors of said firstand second groups of conductors so that each of the storage elementsconnected at the intersection of and between a pair of energizedconductors is energized to said energized stable storage condition independence upon signals recorded on said signal carrier means; and meansconnecting each of said storage elements to a corresponding one of saidcontrol means to provide parallel control of said control means and toprovide parallel control of said printing members through the saidcontrol means and means for retaining the storage elements energized tosaid energized stable storage condition in their stable storagecondition upon de-energization of said energizing means.

2. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination,

a printing mechanism having a plurality of printing members; controlmeans for controlling each of said plurality of printing members;magnetizable signal carrier means having signals recorded seriallythereon; signal sensing means positioned in operative proximity to saidsignal carrier means and adapted to sense signals recorded on the saidsignal carrier means; a storage device having a first group ofcomponents comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spacedconductors, a second group of components comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel spaced conductors positioned with said firstgroup of components and transverse to the said first group ofcomponents, each of the conductors of said first group of componentsintersecting each of the conductors of said second group of components;energizing means including first electronic signal distributor meanshaving an input connected to said signal sensing means and a pluralityof outputs connected to the conductors of said first group ofcomponents, said first electronic signal distributor means being adaptedto energize selected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under thecontrol of signals sensed by said signal sensing means and secondelectronic signal distributor means having an input connected to saidsignal sensing means and a plurality of outputs connected to theconductors of said second group of components, said second electronicsignal distributor means being adapted to energize selected ones of saidlastmentioned conductors under the control of signals sensed by saidsignal sensing means; a plurality of storage tubes each having anenergized stable storage condition and an unenergized stable conditionand each having a control grid connected to a conductor of said firstgroup of components and an anode connected to a conductor of said secondgroup of components at the intersection of each of the conductors ofsaid first and second groups of conductors so that each of the storagetubes connected at the intersection of and between a pair of energizedconductors is energized to said energized stable storage condition independence upon signals recorded on said signal carrier means; and meansconnecting each of said storage tubes to a corresponding one of saidcontrol means to provide parallel control of said control means and toprovide parallel control of said printing members through the saidcontrol means retaining means for retaining any storage elementenergized to a stable storage condition in said stable storage conditionupon de-energization of said energizing means; and means fordeenergizing said energized storage elements whenever required so thatthey return into their unenergized stable condition.

3. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination, a printing mechanismhaving a plurality of printing members; control means for controllingeach of said plurality of printing members; magnetizable signal carriersmeans having signals recorded serially thereon; signal sensing meanspositioned in operative proximity to said signal carrier means andadapted to sense signals recorded on the said signal carrier means; astorage device having a first group of components comprising a pluralityof substantially parallel spaced conductors, a second group ofcomponents comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spacedconductors positioned with said first group of components and transverseto the said first group of components, each of the conductors of saidfirst group of components intersecting each of the conductors of saidsecond group of components, energizing means including first electronicsignal distributor means having an input connected to said signalsensing means and a plurality of outputs connected to the conductors ofsaid first group of components, said first electronic signal distributormeans being adapted to energize selected ones of said last-mentionedconductors under the control of signals sensed by said signals sensingmeans and second electronic signal distributor means having an inputconnected to said signal sensing means and a plurality of outputsconnected to the conductors of said second group of components, saidsecond electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said signal sensing means; a plurality of gasdischarge tubes each having an energized stable storage condition and anunenergized stable condition and each having a control grid connected toa conductor of said first group of components and an anode connected toa conductor of said second group of components at the intersection ofeach of the conductors of said first and second groups of conductors sothat each of the gas discharge tubes connected at the intersection ofand between a pair of energized conductors is energized to saidenergized stable storage condition in dependence upon signals recordedon said signal carrier means; and means connecting each of said gasdischarge tubes to a corresponding one of said control means to provideparallel control of said control means and to provide parallel controlof said printing members through the said control means and means forretaining the storage elements energized to said energized stablestorage condition in their stable storage condition upon de-energizationof said energizing means.

4. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination, a printing mechanismhaving a plurality of printing members; control means for controllingeach of said plurality of printing members; magnetizable signal carriermeans having signals recorded serially thereon; first and second signalsensing means positioned in operative proximity to said signal carriermeans and adapted to sense signals recorded on the said signal carriermeans; a storage device having a first group of components compris ing aplurality of substantially parallel spaced conductors; a second group ofcomponents comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spacedconductors positioned with said first group of components and transverseto the said first group of components, each of the conductors of saidfirst group of components intersecting each of the conductors of saidsecond group of components; energizing means including first cyclicallyoperating electronic signal distributor means having an input electrodefor controlling the intensity of an electron beam and connected to saidfirst signal sensing means, a plurality of target electrodes meansconnected to the conductors of said first group of components forderiving an output signal from each of said target electrodes, andcontrol electrode means for causing said electron beam to passsequentially over said target electrodes and connected to said secondsignal sensing means thereby to control the cyclic operation of saidfirst electronic signal distributor means, said first electronic signaldistributor means being adapted to energize selected ones of saidlast-mentioned conductors under the control of signals sensed by saidfirst and second signals sensing means and second cyclically operatingelectronic signal distributor means having an input electrode forcontrolling the intensity of an electron beam and connected to saidfirst signal sensing means, a plurality of target electrodes, meansconnected to the conductors of said second group of components forderiving an output signal from each of said target electrodes, andcontrol electrode means for causing said electron beam to passsequentially over said target electrodes thereby to control the cyclicoperation of said second electronic signal distributor means, saidsecond electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said first signal sensing means; a plurality ofstorage elements each having an energized stable storage condition andan unenergized stable condition and each connected between a conductorof said first group of components and a conductor of said second groupof components at the intersection of each of the conductors of saidfirst and second groups of conductors so that each of the storageelements connected at the intersection of and between a pair ofenergized conductors is energized to said energized stable storagecondition in dependance upon signals recorded on said signal carriermeans; and means connecting each of said storage elements to acorresponding one of said control means to provide parallel control ofsaid control means and to provide parallel control of said printingmembers through the said control means and means for retaining thestorage elements energized to said energized stable storage condition intheir stable storage condition upon de-energization of said energizingmeans.

5. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination, a printing mechanismhaving a plurality of printing members; control means for controllingeach of said plurality of printing members; magnetizable signal carriermeans having signals recorded serially thereon; first and second signalsensing means positioned in operative proximity to said signal carriermeans and adapted to sense signals recorded on the said signal carriermeans; a storage device having a first group of components comprising aplurality of substantially parallel spaced conductors, a second group ofcomponents comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spacedconductors positioned with said first group of components and transverseto the said first group of components, each of the conductors of saidfirst group of components intersecting each of the conductors of saidsecond group of components; energizing means including first cyclicallyoperating electronic signal distributor means having an input electrodefor controlling the intensity of an electron beam and connected to saidfirst signal sensing means, a plurality of target electrodes, meansconnected to the conductors of said first group of components forderiving an output signal from each of said target electrodes, andcontrol electrode means for causing said electron beam to passsequentially over said target electrodes and connected to said secondsignal sensing means thereby to control the cyclic operation of saidfirst electronic signal distributor means, said first electronic signaldistributor means being adapted to energize selected ones of saidlastmentioned conductors under the control of signals sensed by saidfirst and second signal sensing means and second cyclically operatingelectronic signal distributor means having an input electrode forcontrolling the intensity of an electron beam and connected to saidfirst signal sensing means, a plurality of target electrodes, meansconnected to the conductors of said second group of components forderiving an output signal from each of said target electrodes, andcontrol electrode means for causing said electron beams to passsequentially over said target electrodes thereby to control the cyclicoperation of said second electronic signal distributor means. saidsecond electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said first signal sensing means; a plurality ofstorage tubes each having an energized stable storage condition and anunenergized stable condition and each having a control grid connected toa conductor of said first group of components and an anode connected toa conductor of said second group of components at the intersection ofeach of the conductors of said first and second group of conductors, sothat each of the storage tubes connected at the intersection of andbetween a pair of energized conductors is energized to said energizedstable storage condition in dependence upon signals recorded on saidsignal carrier means; and means connecting each of said storage tubes toa corresponding one of said control means to provide parallel control ofsaid control means and to provide parallel control of said printingmembers through the said control means and means for retaining thestorage elements energized to said energized stable storage condition intheir stable storage condition upon de-energization of said energizingmeans.

6. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination, a printing mechanismhaving a plurality of printing members; control means for controllingeach of said plurality of printing members; magnetizable signal car- Cirtit

rier means having signals recorded serially thereon; first and secondsignal sensing means positioned in operative proximity to said signalcarrier means and adapted to sense signals recorded on the said signalcarrier means; a storage device having a first group of componentscomprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced conductors, asecond group of components comprising a plurality of substantiallyparallel spaced conductors positioned with said first group ofcomponents and transverse to the said first group of components, each ofthe conductors of said first group of components intersecting each ofthe conductors of said second group of components; energizing meansincluding a cathode ray tube comprising first cyclically operatingelectronic signal distributor means having a first input electrode forcontrolling the intensity of an electron beam and connected to saidfirst signal sensing means, a first plurality of target electrodes,means connected to the conductors of said first group of components forderiving an output signal from each of said first plurality of targetelectrodes, and first control electrode means for causing said electronbeam to pass sequentially over said first plurality of target electrodesand connected to said second signal sensing means thereby to control thecyclic operation of said first electronic signal distributor means, saidfirst electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said first and second signal sensing means and secondcyclically operating electronic signal distributor means having a secondinput electrode for controlling the intensity of an electron beam andconnected to said first signal sensing means, a second plurality oftarget electrodes, means connected to the conductors of said secondgroup of components for deriving an output signal from each of saidsecond plurality of target electrodes, and second control electrodemeans for causing said electron beam to pass sequentially over saidsecond plurality of target electrodes thereby to control the cyclicoperation of said second electronic signal distributor means, saidsecond electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said first signal sensing means; a plurality ofstorage tubes each having an energized stable storage condition and anunenergized stable condition and each having a control grid connected toa conductor of said first group of components and an anode connected toa conductor of. said second group of components at the intersection ofeach of the conductors of said first and second groups of conductors sothat each of the storage tubes connected at the intersection of andbetween a pair of energized conductors is energized to said energizedstable storage condition in dependence upon signals recorded on saidsignal carrier means; and means connecting each of said storage tubes toa corresponding one of said control means to provide parallel control ofsaid control means and to provide parallel control of said printingmembers through the said control means and means for retaining thestorage elements energized to said energized stable storage condition intheir stable storage condition upon de-energization of said energizingmeans.

7. In a signal storage arrangement, in combination, a printing mechanismhaving a plurality of printing members; control means for controllingeach of said plurality of printing members; magnetizable signal carriermeans having signals recorded serially thereon; signal sensing meanspositioned in operative proximity to said signal carrier means andadapted to sense signals recorded on the said signal carrier means; astorage device having a first group of components comprising a pluralityof substantially parallel spaced conductors; a second group ofcomponents comprising a plurality -of substantially parallel spacedconductors positioned With said first group of components and transverseto the said first group of components, each of the conductors of saidfirst group of components intersecting each of the conductors of saidsecond group of components; energizing means including first electronicsignal distributor means having an input connected to said signalsensing means and a plurality of outputs connected to the conductors ofsaid first group of components, said first electronic signal distributormeans being adapted to energize selected ones of said last-mentionedconductors under the control of signals sensed by said signals sensingmeans and second electronic signal distributor means having an inputconnected to said signal sensing means and a plurality of outputsconnected to the conductors of said second group of components, saidsecond electronic signal distributor means being adapted to energizeselected ones of said last-mentioned conductors under the control ofsignals sensed by said signal sensing means; a plurality of storageelements each having an energized stable storage condition and anunenergized stable condition and each connected between a conductor ofsaid first group of components and a conductor of said second group of20 to said energized stable storage condition in dependence 25 uponsignals recorded on said signal carrier means, each of said first andsecond signal distributors being adapted to operate in a cycle of adetermined number of steps,

12 one of said first and second electronic signal distributors beingadapted to provide an end-of-cycle signal upon the completion of itscycle; means for transmitting the endof-cycle signal from said one ofsaid signal distributors to the other of the said signal distributorsthereby to advance the said other of the said signal distributors onestep; and means connecting each of said storage elements to acorresponding one of said control means to provide parallel control ofsaid control means and to provide parallel control of said printingmembers through the said control means and means for retaining anystorage element energized to a stable storage condition in said stablestorage condition upon de-energization of said energizing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,779,748 10/30Nicolson.

1,962,447 6/34 Karolus 340-166 X 2,540,654 2/51 Cohen et al.

2,594,731 4/52 Connolly 315-9 X 2,749,480 6/56 Ruderfer 340-166 X2,869,111 1/59 Young 340166 X MALCOLM A. MORRISON, Primary Examiner.

EVERETT R. REYNOLDS, WALTER W. BURNS, Jr.,

Examiners.

1. IN A SIGNAL STORAGE ARRANGEMENT, IN COMBINATION, A PRINTING MECHANISMHAVING A PLURALITY OF PRINTING MEMBERS; CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLINGEACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF PRINTING MEMBERS; MAGNETIZABLE SIGNAL CARRIERMEANS HAVING SIGNALS RECORDED SERIEALLY THEREON; SIGNAL SENSING MEANSPOSITIONED IN OPERATIVE PROXIMITY TO SAID SIGNAL CARRIER MEANS ANDADAPTED TO SENSE SIGNALS RECORDED ON THE SAID SIGNAL CARRIER MEANS; ASTORAGE DEVICE HAVINGA FIRST GROUP OF COMPONENTS COMPRISING A PLURALITYOF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED CONDUCTORS, A SECOND GROUP OFCOMPONENTS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PSACEDCONDUCTORS POSITIONED WITH SAID FIRST GROUP OF COMPONENTS AND TRANSVERSTO THE SAID FIRST GROUP OF COMPONENTS, EACH OF THE CONDUCTORS OF SAIDFIRST GROUP OF COMPONENTS INTERSECTING EACH OF THE CONDUCTORS OF SAIDSECOND GROUP OF COMPONENTS; ENERGIZING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST ELECTRONICSIGNAL DISTRIBUTOR MEANS HAVING AN INPUT CONNECTED TO SAID SIGNALSENSING MEANS AND A PLURALITY OF OUTPUTS CONNECTED TO THE CONDUCTORS OFSAID FIRST GROUP OF COMPONENTS, SAID FIRST ELECTRONIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTORMEANS BEING ADAPTED TO ENERGIZE SELECTED ONES OF SAID LAST-MENTIONEDCONDUCTORS UNDER THE CONTROL OF SIGNALS SENSED BY SAID SIGNAL SENSINGMEANS AND SECOND ELECTRONIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTOR MEANS HAVING AN INPUTCONNECTED TO SAID SIGNAL SENSING MEANS AND A PLURALITY OF OUTPUTSCONNECTED TO THE CONDUCTORS OF SAID SECOND GROUP OF COMPONENTS, SAIDSECOND ELECTRONIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTOR